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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Have you got questions about the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project?

Take a look below for answers to the questions we’re most frequently asked.

Project overview

What is the official name and route number for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing?

When fully opened, the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will officially be named the Toowoomba Bypass.

What is the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing?

The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is a 41 kilometre heavy vehicle bypass route to the north of Toowoomba. When finished, it will connect the Warrego Highway at Helidon Spa in the east to the Gore Highway at Athol in the west via Charlton.

The project is the largest Australian Government commitment to a single road project in Queensland’s history and will ensure freight efficiencies, and significantly improve driver safety and community amenity by removing heavy vehicles from Toowoomba’s CBD.

As the centrepiece of major economic development taking place in south-western Queensland, the road will create a safer, faster and more efficient route for connecting freight to major ports and markets.

Who is Nexus Infrastructure?

Nexus Infrastructure was awarded the contract to design, construct, operate and maintain the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing in August 2015. Nexus Infrastructure comprises a consortium of global leaders with extensive experience in road construction and social infrastructure, plus a track record of successful local project delivery.

Who is Nexus Delivery?

Nexus Delivery is the Construction Joint Venture of Nexus Infrastructure, and is responsible for the design and construction of the project. Nexus Delivery consists of Acciona Infrastructure Australia and Ferrovial Agroman.

Who is funding the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project?

Nexus Infrastructure has entered into a Public-Private Partnership with the Australian and Queensland Governments, who are jointly funding the delivery of the $1.6 billion project on an 80:20 funding split arrangement.

This cost covers the full design and construction of the toll road, including road and pavements, cuttings, structures and underground services, plus a 25 year operation and maintenance contract.

What are the benefits of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing?

The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will:

improve road and driver safety

reduce travel time across the Toowoomba Range by up to 40 minutes for heavy commercial vehicles

avoid up to 18 sets of traffic lights

relieve pressure on local roads by redirecting trucks away from Toowoomba’s CBD

Construction

The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is a design and construct project. What does that mean?

As a design and construct project, the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing’s initial concept through to completion is a streamlined process delivered by one team. It also means design is completed before and during construction. While this collaborative process promotes innovation and efficiency, it also means that construction dates and time frames can change as the project progresses and construction methodologies are informed by design updates.

When will the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing be open to traffic?

We are excited to confirm the entire Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will open to motorists on Sunday 8 September 2019.

Will there be noise barriers along the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing once the road is operational?

Nexus recently completed an operational noise assessment in accordance with the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ Road Traffic Noise Management: Code of Practice 2014 (CoP). The CoP provides guidance and instruction for the assessment and management of the impact of road traffic noise.

Calculations conducted in accordance with the CoP predict the project will be in full compliance with operational noise requirements. This means no noise barriers are planned for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.

Will there be pedestrian access along the New England Highway at Mount Kynoch once the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is completed?

Yes. Pedestrian access will be provided as part of Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project works alongside the New England Highway at Mount Kynoch.

Toowoomba Regional Council is working with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to develop long term pedestrian access on the New England Highway outside the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project area.

What allowance has been made for emergency stopping bays in the final design?

There will be 20 emergency truck stopping bays spaced along the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing alignment, as well as an additional bay with access from either direction of travel between the Mort Street interchange and Boundary Street. This will allow heavy vehicles to check load security and brakes prior to descent (eastbound) and after the ascent (westbound) of the Toowoomba Range. There will also be a heavy vehicle de-coupling bay and rest area on Nass Road that will be accessible from the Warrego Highway west interchange.

Is there going to be an on-ramp/off-ramp onto the New England Highway from the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing?

No. Our design of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is based on the reference design provided by the State Government which details the alignment, interchange locations, on- and off-ramps and traffic configurations for the corridor. There isn’t provision as part of the project for on/off ramp facilities at the New England Highway. The closest point of access to the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will be via the Mort Street interchange, about 4.5km away.

However, the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing has been designed so that on- or off-ramps may be added at any stage in the future.

Where can I see a detailed map showing the location of the project?

Please take a look at our interactive map. If you zoom right in and view in ‘street’ mode, it’s easy to see how the current road network interacts with the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.

Does the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing include an off-ramp to the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport?

No. Construction of an off-ramp to Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport was not included in the State Government’s reference design and does not form part of the Nexus design solution. Motorists on the road bypass will be able to use the Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road interchange to access the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport.

Is there any provision for animals to go under or over the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing?

The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing features a number of fauna-sensitive design elements. This includes fauna passages, furniture and fencing to support biodiversity and allow safe fauna movement.

Six fauna passages will be positioned within fill embankments and areas of dense or significant vegetation habitat across the alignment. Fauna furniture, such as rocks, logs, ropes and poles, will also be used to provide refuge from ground predators and increase connectivity.

For more information on the project’s environmental commitments visit our environment page.

Why were fauna movement underpasses selected as opposed to land bridges?

Fauna movement underpasses were selected due to TSRC project footprint constraints. There are six fauna movement underpasses on the project.

Passage for arboreal fauna (fauna adapted for living and moving around in trees) between habitats will be through fauna underpass culverts. Culverts will include vertical hardwood refuge poles at the entry and exits, and a horizontal hardwood refuge pole bridge which extends through the culvert. These refuge poles help fauna move safely and escape from predators if needed.

Box culverts are being used on the TSRC because arboreal fauna prefer wider access and more light.

In areas where bats have been identified, culverts which are more than 1.5m high will include mesh for roosting.

Fauna fencing has also been included along sections of the alignment to assist in funnelling species into fauna movement underpasses, and will be used alongside the underpasses to deter and help prevent animals entering the operating road environment.

These environmental design elements comply with the Department of Transport and Main Roads Fauna Sensitive Road Design Manual Volume 1 and 2.

To find out more about how the TSRC is using best practice design to protect and preserve the natural environment, visit our environment page.

Operations

How much will the toll road cost to drive on?

The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is an Australian and State Government funded toll road designed to increase freight efficiency and significantly improve driver safety and community amenity by removing heavy vehicles from Toowoomba’s CBD. The location and pricing of tolls will be managed by the State Government and is not currently part of the scope being undertaken by Nexus.

Who is the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) arm of Nexus Infrastructure?

Nexus Operations, consisting of Broadspectrum, is responsible for operating and maintaining the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing for 25 years after completion of the toll road.

Toowoomba Second Range Crossing - Cranley to Athol section

How much of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is opened?

The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is open to traffic between Cranley on Toowoomba’s northern edge and the Gore Highway, 25km west of the city, providing 24km of new road.

How can drivers access the opened western sections?

Drivers can use the TSRC between the interchange with Mort Street at Cranley in Toowoomba’s north and the interchange with the Gore Highway at Athol, 25km west of Toowoomba from December 2018.

They can use the western interchange with the Warrego Highway at Charlton, providing connectivity between the Toowoomba Central Business District, Warrego Highway at Charlton, Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road – for access to Wellcamp Airport – and the Gore Highway.

To help you navigate the interchanges along the opened section of the TSRC, check out our animations on how to use the new road between Mort Street (Cranley) and the Gore Highway (Athol).

Will the opened western sections be tolled?

No tolls will be charged until the whole road is open between Helidon Spa in the Lockyer Valley east of Toowoomba and Athol west of Toowoomba, a distance of 41km providing an alternative to the existing range crossing in Toowoomba.

Why don't you charge a toll for the western sections?

The toll gantry is located east of the Mort Street interchange so it is outside the opened section of the TSRC. The opened section does not provide an alternative crossing of the Toowoomba Range, which is the key objective of the TSRC.

How much will it cost to travel on the Toowoomba Bypass when it fully opens?

Tolls on the new Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will be free for three months when it opens in early September 2019.

After this, toll charges for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) are as follows:

motorcycles – $1.15

cars – $2.30

light commercial vehicles – $5.70

heavy vehicles – $22.85

The toll point on the TSRC is located at Cranley, east of the Mort Street Interchange.

All heavy vehicles will be required to use the TSRC except vehicles with a local destination in Toowoomba, or travelling to, or from, the Warwick area via the New England Highway.

What are the key features of the opened western section of the TSRC?

Four lanes (two lanes each way) between Cranley and Charlton, a distance of 9km

Two lanes (one each way) between Charlton and Athol, a distance of 15km

Grade-separated interchanges at Cranley, Charlton, Wellcamp and Athol

Access to the Nass Road truck stop and decoupling pad at Charlton

A grade separated connection to Boundary Street

Sections of road where the centre line has been widened to provide a bigger gap between vehicles travelling in opposing directions to reduce the risk of head-on crashes

Community

I want more information about the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project. Who can I contact?

For detailed information on a range of topics, click through to our community fact sheets or visit the Department of Transport and Main Roads website.

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